Keratosis Pilaris
 

Everyone with Keratosis Pilaris raise your hands! Well, okay, don't.

Keratosis Pilaris is a hereditary follicular disorder where the body creates just a little bit too much keratin, which surrounds hair follicles in the pore. The effect is small bumps on the skin which appear like acne or permanent goosebumps. The condition is very common, effecting about 2/5ths of all people. Generally, they will manifest on the upper arms, though they can develop elsewhere.

I have a mild case of Keratosis Pilaris, on my arms just above my elbows. Interestingly enough, after finally having it correctly diagnosed, I've been able to reduce the effects of the condition. The same retin-a treatment for acne can also help to significantly reduce the amount and severity of bumps, and when combined with moisturizer and making sure to get plenty of vitamin A, I can nearly get rid of it completely. It's a pain, but it's also a pain to look like you've broken out on your arms when you're in your mid to late 20s.

Anyone else have Keratosis Pilaris? How do you deal with it? Have you talked to your doctor about it?

I had it really bad in high school. On my face and upper arms. My Dad has it all over his back. Well I don't know about now but he did when I was a kid. I remember because I hated it when he'd ask me to scratch his back lol. But as I've gotten older, it's actually gotten way better. I have traces of it on my upper arms, I'll get it on my legs if I don't shave for a few days and I still have traces of it on my face. But you can't see or feel them unless you're super close.

I remember a dermatologist gave me this medicine to apply twice daily that itched like an mf'r. Seems, for me, exfoliating and intense moisturizing get rid of it best. And of course, shaving's a form of exfoliation - scrub first, then shave, then slather with whatever good moisturizer you can get your hands on. My skin's so dry, I'm hooked on the Lush body butter bars.

So yes, I relate.

I've had it since I was 13. As I got older, it went away except when I get too much sun.
So I stopped going in the sun and it pretty much resolved.
I'm on doxy now for my skin after my immune system went haywire and it helped, too.
But, the antibiotic tears up my stomach and head really badly. It's a crappy trade.
I also found that certain foods that irritated my allergies would cause my KP to flare up on my upper arms for about a week but if I avoided them again, the skin would calm down.